Electric switch



Feb. 20, 1951 w. s. GoERTzEN ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed April 15, 1947INVENTOB WfLLJAM. GoERrz. N BY @/M@ ATToRNEY Patented Feb. 20, 1951 iUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,542,132 `ELEo'rinio SWITCH William S.Goertzen, Newton, Kans.

Application April 15, 1947, Serial No. 741,451

1 Claim.

l My invention relates to an electric switch and has for its principalobject to break an electric circuit as rocked from its circuit closingposition,

' as a safety result when applied to a steam boiler or the like.

A further object of the invention is to provide a switch that will breakthe circuit by the vertical position of a structure containing theswitch and likewise close the circuit when the structure is abnormallyinclined for the result of illumination.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a switch for anelectric circuit that will function under gravity control to close thecircuit or break the same. y

A still further object of my invention is to provide a switch whoseelements are of rigid material to make and break an electric circuitwhereby the negative or positive side of the circuit has a pendentlycarried element that will swing to and from engagement with the otherpole as controlled by gravity.

These and other objects will hereinafter be more fully explained,reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of thisspecification, in which like characters will apply to like parts in thedifferent views.

Referring to the drawings;

Fig. l represents the switch positioned in a fishing bob, partly insection.

Fig. -2 is an enlarged View of the switch showing its circuit closingposition, parts removed for convenience of illustration. l l

Fig. 3 illustrates one-position of the switch mechanism to break thecircuit.

Fig. 4 represents theposition of the switch to break the circuit whenthe device is inverted.

Fig. 5 shows the adaption of the switch as a safety control.

The invention herein disclosed consists of two applications of a switch,one of which consists of a tubular body I functioning as a housing. Saidhousing has a lining 2 of insulation material that extends from theupper end of the housing downward to a spaced distance from the lowerend thereof, the terminal end of the lining forming a shoulder and afulcrum point as at A on which a cylindrical elongated bob 3 will rockas carried by links 4 and 5, the links coacting with the bob for theother side of the circuit, the major length of the bob being adjacentthe links so that the minor portion will be rocked from engagement withthe shell as the housing reaches a horizontal position as shown in Fig.3. Link 5 is integrally joined to a helical spring 6 to seat on a head'I of insulation material (the spring purpose later described). Saidlink 4 is rockably connected to the upper end of the said bob by balland socket engagement by which means the bob is free to rock to and fromengagementwith the shell of the container, and furthermore the saidlinks being elongated is means for collapsation thereof when the housingis inverted as shown in Fig. `4, when in which case the circuit isbroken when the body of the bob rests upon the insulated lining.

TheV said housing I has a head I' threadedly engaging on its lower endthereof as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, while the upper end 'is externallythreaded a short distance downward to engage with the internal threadsat the lower end of a tube 8, said tube functioning as a container for abattery 9 that seats on the upper extremity of the helical spring 6which is the connection for one end of the battery. The other end of thebattery is in connection with the stem of a lamp I 0, the stemthreadedly engaging in a metallic socket I I that fits snugly in theupper end of the battery tube. The upper end of the tube has atransparent disc I2 suitably secured therein fluid tight as at B, andagainst which the upper end of the lamp socket will engage. 1

Integrally joined to the upper end of the bat tery tube 8 is an annulariiange I3 outwardly extending to seat on anvannular gasket I4 and beingbound thereto by a collar I5 that is internally threaded to engage withthe threaded portion of the tube adjacent last said flange. The saidflange I3 has a vV-shaped bridge I6 diametrically crossing the same andintegrally joined thereto, the bridge being apertured at its apexthereof through which a fish line I'I will extend, the line beingsecured at a predetermined point therealong to the bridge apex toaccommodate for the depth of a hook I8 as secured to the downwardlyextending free end of the line. The tubular battery container 8 togetherwith the switch container are insertible in a bore I9 axially positionedin a iish line float 2l] as shown in Fig. 1, and being secured thereinby snug engagement of the said collar I5 in its enlarged portion of thebore I9, and being so arranged as above described, the containers areremovable from the bore of the tubular body of the neat 20. Said floatis elongated and formed so that it will retain itself in a verticalposition when placed in a body of water, in which case, the circuit isbroken, however when a fish pulls the line by a bite on the hook, thefloat will rock from a vertical position to close a circuit for thelamp. An upper portion of the fioat and including the lamp is exposedabove the water and discernible when the lamp is illuminated, wherebywhen the fish is caught or when the same is biting on the line Willactuate the lamp to notify the fisherman, it being understood that thefloat of this character may be used at night or partially darkened days.

In Fig. 5 is shown the installation of a metallic bob 2| positionedwithin a spherical hollow float 22 that has an arm 23 radially extendingand pivotedly connected as at C to another arm 24, the latter beingjoined, for example, to the wall oi a steam boier, its water column, orthe .like (the boiler or column not being shown in the drawings). Ineither event, the spherical bodyvwill function as a float, the rockingof which is controlled by the rise and fall of Water contained in theboiler, the purpose of which being to make or break an electric circuitas a safety device to extinguish the burning of gaseous fuel used as aboiling means for the water contained in the boiler. The circuit isbroken when the water reaches the low danger level, at which point, thespherical float will take itsposition as shown by dotted linesD inFig.5, and in which position, the .bob by gravity actuation'automaticallymoves from contact with the shell of the float thus breaking `thecircuit and permitting the closing of a gaseous fuel valve through themedium of a springthat is released at the time of breaking the 'electriccircuit. It will be understood that the said valve is providedwith anelectric motor that over ,powers the spring vtension when the 'currentis on. 'The valve, its motor, a gas burner, and the boiler are ofconventional types and well known to such line of service, all of whichhave been omitted from the drawings, but the electric .circuit controlfor such service may be arranged ias follows:

',The'link 25 isconnected to a rigidextension 26 that Ais fixed in anysuitable manner to said iloat and its arm 23, said extension beinginsulated by Va `tubei2'! of insulation material, While the extension isconnected to Aan electric feed line 28 as'a source `of electric Vpowerand being one side of the circuit. The float through its connection withthe boiler or columnconstitutes the other side of the circuit, thereforethe said elongated bob is themedium or connecting'link Ato close thecircuit when it moves in contact with the shell of the iioat as Vshownby whole lines inFig. 5, and by reason of a low water danger line thesaid float will recede downwardly as above described, whereby theelectric circuit is broken, killingthe motor so that the springtensioned valve thereof is (free to out off the fuel supply to avoidboiler explosion.

While I have shown a specific form for the switch bob and itscontainers, I do not wish to be restricted to such alone as the same maybe varied to meet conditions required for a perfect performance of theprinciple herein set forth, and the switch as gravity actuated may beapplied to other purposes to restrict against emergencies or to supply adesired effect by making or breaking an electric circuit for producingan essentialresult, `and such other modifications may be made as liewith thescope of the appended claim.

Having fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

.In an electric switch comprising an elongated tubular` housingvertically positioned and being externally threaded on its lower end, aflanged head threadedly engaging said lower end, a circular head ofinsulation material secured on the upper end ,of the housing to closesaid end there- Of, a lining ci insulationmaterial positionedin thehousing', saidlining extendingfrom the .insulation head and terminatinga'spaced `distance from the Iianged head of the housing, a U-shaped link`structure ,extending inwardlyrfrorn kthe insulation head, a linkrockablyconnected `totirst said link structure, an `elongated metallicbob and rockable connecting means iforl oneend of said bob to'thesecondsaidlink, vthe.otherendof said `bob serving asa switch whenthe'samecontacts the housing between the ,flanged `head .and adjacentend of the .lining should thefhousing be rocked a predeterminedanglefrom a :vertical lineand when rockedto'zagreater angle, the fboblies on the insulating lining .ast'afsafety `means to break a circuit.

WILLIAMS. .GOERTZEN ...REFERENCES CITED The following references areofrecerd inxthe lile ofvthis patent:

UNITED 'STATES VI?A'I'FJ\TTS

